HMEC and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant Announce Formal Collaboration to Advance Marine Energy Engagement
Behind every emerging industry is a network of people and organizations working together to turn ideas into impact. Through a new partnership, HMEC and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant are helping build the relationships that will support the next chapter of marine energy across Hawaiʻi and the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands.
The Hawaiʻi Marine Energy Center (HMEC) and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant are pleased to announce a formal collaboration to advance marine energy across Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI). Together, the two organizations will expand education, outreach, and stakeholder engagement as marine energy technologies continue to mature.
Hawaiʻi Sea Grant is introducing a new Marine Energy Extension and Community Engagement Specialist position. The role will connect researchers, government agencies, industry partners, educators, and communities while supporting education, workforce development, and public engagement in marine energy across the region. The position reflects the partnership's commitment to making marine energy research more accessible while fostering informed dialogue around emerging ocean energy technologies.
For more than 50 years, Hawaiʻi Sea Grant has connected university research with the needs of Hawaiʻi's coastal communities. Its statewide network, trusted relationships, and close collaboration with the University of Guam Sea Grant program provide a strong foundation for expanding marine energy engagement throughout Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.
Although HMEC and Hawaiʻi Sea Grant previously worked together on community discussions related to renewable energy, those early efforts revealed the potential for a broader collaboration. They demonstrated the value of pairing marine energy research with experienced extension and outreach expertise, laying the groundwork for the partnership announced today.
The timing is no coincidence. Marine energy is in an exciting period of growth, with technologies moving beyond the laboratory and into real-world testing. As this transition continues, Hawaiʻi is well positioned to play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of marine renewable energy. This collaboration represents an investment not only in technology but also in the people, partnerships, and knowledge needed to help bring marine energy from research into practice.